Kraemer, Gustav (1863-1948)

Gustav Kraemer (1863-1948), born at Wissen an der Sieg (district Koblenz), Germany, first a Protestant state church pastor, 1887-1990, at Düsseldorf-Gerresheim in a metropolitan congregation, and 1892-1901 at Dachwig (district of Erfurt) in a village congregation, then served as Mennonite pastor in Krefeld 1903-1936 and for several additional years during World War II as substitute for his successor Dirk Cattepoel. His health was never robust. His sermons attracted Mennonites and others, in Krefeld and Neuwied, in Hanover and Berlin, and in 1942 also in Heubuden. In 1905-1948 he published the Monatsblätter der (altevangelischen) Mennonitengemeinde(n) Crefeld (und Emden). He took care of the dying congregations of Cleve and Goch. From 1908 he represented his congregation in the Vereinigung and has to his credit particularly the organization of the Prediger-Ruhegehalts-Kasse (Ministers' Pension Foundation).